Amentum and Rolls-Royce SMR partner on small modular reactors

Above: Amentum and Rolls Royce SMR aim to define what is possible in nuclear energy and small, scalable reactors.
Courtesy of Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd.

In the UK, Rolls-Royce SMR will deliver up to 1.5GW of low-carbon energy to the grid, supporting the UK’s net zero goals and creating more than 8,000 quality long-term British jobs.

Rolls-Royce SMR and Amentum have signed a collaborative agreement giving Amentum the programme delivery role responsible for integration, oversight and governance, construction management and execution of SMR deployment.

Amentum will immediately work on ensuring successful delivery of the first Rolls-Royce SMRs in the UK and Czech Republic. In partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR, the company will deploy its full nuclear life cycle experience to oversee multifunctional programme execution and integrated planning to support the on-time and on-budget delivery of SMR-generated power.

“The Amentum Rolls-Royce SMR collaboration advances the deployment of this transformational technology, a critical enabler in strengthening energy security in the UK and continental Europe,” said John Heller, chief executive officer of Amentum. “Amentum brings its industry-leading expertise as a project delivery partner for complex energy infrastructure to the forefront of small modular reactor deployment, ushering in the next generation of clean, reliable energy.”

“Amentum will support the deployment of a fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs, contributing to our growth and our plan to create new jobs in the UK over the next four years,” said Loren Jones, senior vice president and head of Amentum’s Energy and Environment-International business. “Amentum’s deep nuclear expertise and robust supplier network are ideal to support growing energy requirements and drive long-term industrial growth.”

“By working with Amentum, an established and experienced global nuclear leader, we are combining our skills to build a powerful team that will enable successful delivery on our order commitments in multiple markets,” said Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Chris Cholerton. “We have secured a world‑leading partner that is fully invested in our success. This partnership plays directly to our strengths – ours in advanced manufacturing and engineering, and theirs in program and construction excellence. It is a truly synergistic relationship that strengthens our overall offering.”

“Partnering with Amentum to successfully deliver the Rolls-Royce SMR programme is an important moment for us,” said Ruth Todd CBE, Rolls-Royce SMR’s operations and supply chain director. “This partnership supplements our existing capabilities with specialist expertise, geographical reach and provides access to the breadth of Amentum’s wider supply chain. It ensures we are equipped to deliver our programmes in the UK, Czech Republic, in Sweden and globally with confidence, scale and robust delivery assurance. The Amentum – Rolls-Royce SMR collaboration advances our deployment plans significantly.”

With global electricity demand expected to double in the coming decades, Rolls-Royce SMR offers a radically different approach to new nuclear: smaller, scalable factory-built nuclear power plants that can be deployed, using a modular approach, for a range of applications.

Amentum was part of a consortium of supply chain companies that began working with Rolls-Royce in 2016 to develop a new kind of modular power station to meet the growing need for nuclear generated electricity. Amentum is supported in this role by supply chain partners Turner & Townsend, Hochtief, Mace Consult and Unipart.